NISSAN LEAF Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 2,691 MOT tests from 350 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore. The figures below describe that VehicleScore sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are not a claim that every NISSAN LEAF has the same fault.

NISSAN LEAF's have a very good reliability rating of 710/999. The score was calculated from the average of every NISSAN LEAF that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
N/A	N/A	800/999Excellent	79,002 miles	2,602 vehicles
N/A	N/A	772/999Very good	82,367 miles	3,482 vehicles
N/A	N/A	705/999Very good	89,347 miles	3,392 vehicles
N/A	N/A	661/999Good	110,833 miles	2,920 vehicles
N/A	N/A	612/999Good	131,719 miles	1,385 vehicles

How reliable is the NISSAN LEAF?

Based on 2,691 MOT tests from 350 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore.

Vehicles

350

MOT tests

2,691

Pass rate

81.9%

Median mileage

55,119 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every NISSAN LEAF has the same fault. The median VehicleScore in this sample is 797 out of 999.

Common NISSAN LEAF MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 587 advisory comments and 61 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 246 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Suspension arm issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 111 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn, corroded, or damaged suspension arm or its pin.

What to inspect

Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM PIN OR BUSH WORN BUT NOT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 104 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 104 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Windscreen damage

VehicleScore MOT data includes 38 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record chips, cracks, or other windscreen damage in the driver’s view.

What to inspect

Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT WINDSCREEN WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDSCREEN EFFECTIVELY (3.4 (B) (II))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore MOT data includes 21 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore MOT data includes 20 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

NISSAN LEAF MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2024	6	0	—	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	16	18	88.9%	Tyre wear
2022	33	67	92.5%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2021	30	114	86%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2020	28	187	84.5%	Tyre wear, Ball joint wear
2019	29	186	89.2%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2018	33	250	85.6%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2017	42	387	80.6%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2016	31	300	79%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2015	40	420	81.4%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2014	33	387	78.3%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2013	11	135	80.7%	Tyre wear, Ball joint wear
2012	9	122	83.6%	Tyre wear, Ball joint wear
2011	7	118	71.2%	Brake disc wear, Corrosion

What to check when buying a used NISSAN LEAF

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Suspension arm issues. Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Windscreen damage. Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.
Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Buying a NISSAN LEAF?

Common problems tell you what can affect NISSAN LEAFs generally. VehicleScore can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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